Maine

[TAMMACLEAN]

We have about 30 chickens and will be adding ducks soon. My question is where can I get bulk feed? I usually do FF for them so I'd like a good variety of feed. I'm tired of buying 50 pounds bags. I in the Gray-New Gloucester area. Also, can ducks and chickens eat the same food? I don't usually get layer because I know it's not good for the roosters, plus we always seem to have chicks so we usually just have chick food. Plus oyster shell, left overs and free ranging. Thanks

 

[Jazor]

Has anyone else noticed a drop in production the past few days? Wondering if it's the hotter weather...

Sure have, was suspecting the same thing. Added more waterers to try and keep things cooler for them, see if that helps a bit.

Also, being that they are outside of the barn so much, I figure they are hiding eggs on me. Found a few around the yard. Can only guess how many I haven't found.

 

[Jazor]

We have about 30 chickens and will be adding ducks soon. My question is where can I get bulk feed? I usually do FF for them so I'd like a good variety of feed. I'm tired of buying 50 pounds bags. I in the Gray-New Gloucester area. Also, can ducks and chickens eat the same food? I don't usually get layer because I know it's not good for the roosters, plus we always seem to have chicks so we usually just have chick food. Plus oyster shell, left overs and free ranging. Thanks

I feed my ducks, turkeys, and chicks (not already laying eggs) the blue seal Multi-flock crumble. I buy the 50# bags because that's the option.

 

[chickenneighbor]

Lost four chicken neighbors to a fox this week. Hug your hens and keep 'em safe. RIP Jangles (my avatar and favorite girl), Ziggy, Sassy and Chloe.

 

[Jazor]

Lost four chicken neighbors to a fox this week.

Hug your hens and keep 'em safe. RIP Jangles (my avatar and favorite girl), Ziggy, Sassy and Chloe.

Came home Saturday night, closed up the duck pen; the turkey pen as well; and the barn (where the chooks live) and heard a noise along the edge of the treeline. Hit the area with my flashlight, sure as hell there was a grey fox sneaking along. Was too dark and too rushed to get an appropriate weapon--so I sent some 12ga. buckshot in his direction. No confirmed hits, but haven't seen him since. Tis the season...

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Sorry to hear about the loss, chickenneighbor. Hope the grey fox stays away, Jazor!

Reassuring to hear mine aren't the only girls who have slowed laying. I should put out additional waterers with this heat.. thanks for the reminder!

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm not complaining, well, maybe i am! This heat is obnoxious. Thankfully, my work place is not extremely hot... not like some places I've worked. And we have AC in the livingroom, so it's possible to cool off a bit at home. But, the poor girls. It's upsetting to come home at the end of the work day, and see them with their mouths hanging open.

Jazor, sorry about your grey fox. I've seen video clips of them climbing trees. they're more agile than the reds, and i've heard that where their territories over lap, the reds climb trees too. They're picking up bad habits from their grey cousins.

Chickenneighbor, sorry about loss of your friends as well. My girls get out to range every day, I know it's just a matter of time before i get hit. It's a balancing act for sure: constantly doing risk assessment!

 

[quailtrail]

@lazy gardener I will admit I am complaining! ! Hate the humidity Our center is about 80degrees...yup im crabby by days end...

In chicken news...my 3mo olds will not hang with the yr olds. They free range separated and won't go near the coop. They run for the cage in the garage.

My broody us still sitting should hatch around Sunday. Put 10 into lock down. ..6 out 10 were shipped and 4 from the first clutch she sat on until she switched nests. All look great! Fingers crossed as this will be the 4th successful hatch in a row after lots of failures.

 

[lazy gardener]

Congrats. Doms??? My RCBL are sizing up nicely. I think once they start laying and get over their flighty scared of everything stage, they'll be nice birds. Love their pretty white ear lobes.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

We lost a turkey hen to a fox today, too.